The Sanctity and Value of Life - Part 1

The Sanctity and Value of Life

Part 1

“Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

- John 1:14

The Sanctity and Value of Life

 (Psalm 139:14)

“I am fearfully and wonderfully made”

Respectfully

Every human is created in God’s image.

“God created man in his own image…”

 -Genesis 1:26

The “Image of God” never goes away

 The ability to know God and to be known by God.

“From womb to tomb.”

But the “Image of God” actually never goes away. [Afterlife]

The Image of God started at Conception

 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful…16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; … 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!”

-Psalms 139:13-17

Human dignity and value are not earned.

 No ones value is based on intelligence, age, ability, productivity, race, health, or moral success

Every human being bears the image of God:

 Unborn, Elderly, Disabled, Poor, People that are not your nationality, Prisoner, Addict, Those who disagree with you…

“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; 13 planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, 15 proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock…”

-Psalm 92:12-15

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

-Isaiah 46:4

“Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.”

-Leviticus 19:32

“When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind…”

 - Luke 14:13–14

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned [He was blind]… but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

- John 9:1–3

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

 - 2 Corinthians 12:9–10

“Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

 - John 1:14

“Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

 - John 1:14

Grace & Truth must go together.

  Grace without truth is deception and misleading.

Truth without grace is just plain mean.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

 (Luke 10:25-37)

 25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” 27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ” 28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” 29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” 37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

- Luke 10:25-37

The Good Samaritan

Was hated by full-blooded Jews, but helped one anyway.

Helped a man in need even though it was Inconvenient and at great sacrifice and personal loss.

Saw the person, while the priest and the Levite saw a only the problem.

Loving like God does, sees people, not categories.

See people, not categories.

“…there is no partiality with God.”

 -Romans 2:11

“I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, [Prejudice] and to do nothing out of favoritism.”

 -1 Timothy 5:21

The Sanctity and Value of Life

 (Psalm 139:14)

 “I am fearfully and wonderfully made”

 Respectfully

 [and so is everyone else]

“Grace [to everyone] and truth [about ever issue] came through Jesus Christ.”

 - John 1:14